Unwritten Law - Live & Lawless [LP/DVD]

Longtime SoCal pop-punkers Unwritten Law, notable for their smash hits "Seein' Red" and "Cailin," release their first live album, complete with a DVD of 22 songs - and five acoustic versions.

How is it?

Live albums are generally throwaway releases for many bands - really, if you aren't a diehard fan of said band, you will overlook the release as a means to get one more record off the contract. It's not too much different for Unwritten Law, a band that provided some rather substantial hits in the early part of this millennium but have succumbed to radio-rock standards in recent years (for an idea of this, check out the Hinder-approved album cover). The band states they are a "live band first and foremost," hence the release of their first-ever live CD/DVD combo, Live & Lawless (the band has previously released the out-of-print Music in High Places special from MTV on DVD).

The live CD is essentially nothing special here - 16 tracks covering the band's last three studio albums (Unwritten Law, Elva and Here's to the Mourning), but no older material (say, from Oz Factor, like "Superman"?). The DVD, however, is a nice treat for any fan of the band - the 22 songs here are presented in good quality with little to no errors on the band's part. Vocalist Scott Russo is no spring chicken these days, but still manages to provide enough energy and smoothness to the songs, ranging from old favorites ("Teenage Suicide," "Lonesome") to gentle acoustic ("Rest of My Life," "Before I Go") to the obscure - but pleasant - album cuts ("CPK," "Shallow"). While there's literally nothing new here to present, for any longtime Unwritten Law fan, it's not a bad way to continue supporting their career. There's no shortage on material here - however, this is simply "for collector's only".

Recommended if You Like

Unwritten Law's major-label material; live albums; digital video discs with 22 songs by Unwritten Law, performed on a stage with a crowd in front of them, having fun.

ya know i have been a HUGE UL fan for quite some time. (1997) but seriously what the hell. The last like 4 releases have been the same old songs over and over and over. Music in High Places, Unwritten Law greatest hits, The Hit List, and now this. It blows my mind that anyone is buying these albums. I stopped at music in high places. When are we ever going to get new material?? I don't even listen to that Mourning album anymore, it had like zero lasting value. The last good full length UL has made was the MASTERPIECE which is ELVA. My patience is wearing very thin on UL these days. They are in desperate need of a new GOOD full length. Maybe if they put something decent out I will go back and buy this Live Cd, but I don't have any aspirations to go out and buy the 4th installment of the same songs. I know Unwritten Law has it in them to write another good record; I am just hoping it comes out this decade.

ya know i have been a HUGE UL fan for quite some time. (1997) but seriously what the hell. The last like 4 releases have been the same old songs over and over and over. Music in High Places, Unwritten Law greatest hits, The Hit List, and now this. It blows my mind that anyone is buying these albums. I stopped at music in high places. When are we ever going to get new material?? I don't even listen to that Mourning album anymore, it had like zero lasting value. The last good full length UL has made was the MASTERPIECE which is ELVA. My patience is wearing very thin on UL these days. They are in desperate need of a new GOOD full length. Maybe if they put something decent out I will go back and buy this Live Cd, but I don't have any aspirations to go out and buy the 4th installment of the same songs. I know Unwritten Law has it in them to write another good record; I am just hoping it comes out this decade.

ya know i have been a HUGE UL fan for quite some time. (1997) but seriously what the hell. The last like 4 releases have been the same old songs over and over and over. Music in High Places, Unwritten Law greatest hits, The Hit List, and now this. It blows my mind that anyone is buying these albums. I stopped at music in high places. When are we ever going to get new material?? I don't even listen to that Mourning album anymore, it had like zero lasting value. The last good full length UL has made was the MASTERPIECE which is ELVA. My patience is wearing very thin on UL these days. They are in desperate need of a new GOOD full length. Maybe if they put something decent out I will go back and buy this Live Cd, but I don't have any aspirations to go out and buy the 4th installment of the same songs. I know Unwritten Law has it in them to write another good record; I am just hoping it comes out this decade.

CPK was on Blue Room. Shallow was on both Blue Room and Oz Factor (EDIT: and on High Places). I still agree... where's Suzanne, Lame and Superman considering this is essentially a live best-of. I will always defend UL to the bitter (oh-so-bitter) end due to S/T being THE formative album of my adolescence (over anything NFG, ODS, 182, Ataris, Millencolin could conjure) but Scott should retired the name after Wade was kicked out.